LA man charged in machete attack on ex-wife

LOS ANGELES (AP) — A Los Angeles man has been charged with slashing his ex-wife and a former music industry executive with a machete and knife while holding them hostage for more than five hours.

City News Service says Behnam Vasseghi was charged Tuesday with more than a dozen felony counts, including attempted murder, torture and aggravated mayhem.

Prosecutors say Jerry Sharell, a former record and radio network executive, was at home with his girlfriend on Sunday when Vasseghi took them hostage.

Authorities contend that Vasseghi questioned Sharell and cut him on the neck if he didn't like the answer. Prosecutors also say he cut off the tip of his ex-wife's nose before she was able to call police, and then slit his own wrists.